For the girls at St Joseph’s Convent, the Carnival Princess pageant is one of the most anticipated events of the school year. The pageant is to students, what the National Carnival Queen pageant is to St Lucian society, with an almost equal level of glam associated with it—well, at least where students are concerned.

On Friday, February 12, four aspiring princesses took to the stage at the National Cultural Centre (NCC); Teresa Gaillard, representing the Blessed Anne house (red), paying tribute to Dame Sessenne Descartes, Dawn Clarke from St Maria Goretti (green), paying tribute to Derek Walcott, Siedah Weekes, the St Theresa (yellow) representative paying tribute to the late Virgie Alexander and Miquella Louisy from St Ann’s (blue) house, paying tribute to Kendel Hippolyte.

On the night, the NCC was filled almost to capacity with students, teachers, parents and well-wishers and shortly after 7:30pm, the show opened with an energetic routine by the Silver Shadow dancers; then it was time for the contestants to showcase their talents.

Miquella Louisy was up first with a skit on protecting the land, then came Siedah Weekes with a modern dance piece. Dawn Clarke added drama to the mix with a dramatic presentation that revolved around “A City’s Death by Fire.” For her part Teresa Gaillard put on a skit where she honoured Dame Sessenne Descartes and the importance of promoting St Lucian culture.

While the contestants got ready for the next segment, the Catch a Fire dancers blazed up the stage with their flawless dancehall moves and it was clear much effort had gone into coordination of their set. Then came the costume segment.

The best costume of the night would go to Teresa Gaillard with her captivating design by Giovanni St Omer assisted by Sean Greaves. The glittery creation portrayed romance, with its rose decor, gold foil ribbons and extravagant red carnival headpiece.

As the contestant danced and shimmered onstage with their larger than life costumes, it was hard to shake the feeling that at any moment the princesses would go overboard with the energetic moves and the entire creation would fall apart. Fortunately, the girls were spared the embarrassment. The other three contestants of the night floated by in their costumes, Miquella Louisy in a fiery orange and yellow creation dancing confidently to Ziwah; Dawn Clarke with hers that depicted a “City’s Death by Fire”; Siedah Weekes in her vibrant costume that had many representations. Madras on the bottom to depict cultural roots, greens and yellows to create a Caribbean feel and basket atop that labeled social ills including drugs, crime and HIV.

A group of girls who’d decided upon Lady Gaga’s hit song “Bad Romance” for their act were among the most memorable performers for the night. The students went all out, down to Gaga’s signature wacky wardrobe and makeup. The adults in the crowd might not have gotten it, but the kids certainly did. Parents and teachers were notably shaking their heads, likely wondering where the “youth of today” got the song and dance from, and why on earth they liked it in the first place. A cultural Indian dance followed, trailed closely by a fashion show.

In the evening wear segment it was Teresa Gaillard who left the audience awestruck by her evening wear, reminiscent of a traditional Wob Dwiyet, down to the petticoat. Her dress was a mixture of reds, oranges and browns and she won over the audience completely when she removed shoulder covering of her dress designed by Sean Greaves to reveal an elegant low cut back.

The girls were asked the same question for the interview segment: ‘What impact did Derek Walcott winning a Nobel Prize have on St Lucians?’ While individual contestants had their go at the question, the others were kept backstage in a “sound proof room.” Most felt it gave St Lucia international appeal.

The show results were announced shortly after last year’s winner Jessica Duboulay’s final walk. The best talent went to Siedah Weekes who would be the first runner up. The Carnival Princess title would go to the contestant who took away three of the four awards for the night, Teresa Gaillard, who also won best costume, best evening wear and best interview.